The Last Mile Solution: Improving Health & Access to Transportation for Camden’s Vulnerable Populations

  • Completion Date: (December 2022)
  • Funding Agency: South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA)
  • Funding Amount: $500,000
  • Project Goal:The project, is a joint effort by Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, in collaboration with Rowan University: Center for Research and Education in Advanced Transportation Engineering Systems (CREATEs), and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA).  The specific project objectives include:
    • Explore the last mile problems in the unserved communities in the State of New Jersey with a focus on Camden as a case study;
    • Examine current transportation networks and assess improvements needed to facilitate equitable, affordable, and implementable last-mile transportation options;
    • Identify best practices and lessons learned from other states to mitigate the last-mile problems;
    • Undertake an extensive community and a business outreach effort. This will include the following specific objectives:
      • Review and determine best practices from other programs in New Jersey and the region and develop an inventory of potential solutions
      • Develop a framework and parameters of the plan, followed by specific metrics of measurements
    • Develop priorities and recommendations for the City, state, federal, and public health to keep people safe, healthy, and productive; and
    • Develop a last-mile solution/plan (a transportation and health assessment and a pilot program for the City of Camden)